Machine for finishing bolts and screws



5, 1934- H. D. SIMKINS El AL 1,946,243

MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS Original Filed May 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR! Huwmm Z7. SIMAUNS.

[71.1122]; 2 Dz-Lmsz ATTORNEYS 1934. H. D. SIMKINS ET AL 1,946,243

MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS Original Filed May 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS H0 WARD I7. SJMKIN s. Umvsn 1 DEL 0E.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1934. H. D. SIMKINS El AL 1,946,243

MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS Original Filed May 31, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Ha WARD D. Srmxnvs.

ULIYER P DBL 0E.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS pany, Cleveland, Ohio Original application May 31, 1928, Serial No.

281,966. Divided and this application June 17, 1929. Serial No. 371,655

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for finishing bolts and screws, including the shaving and pointing operations.

The present application is a division of our IS co-pending application, Serial No. 281,966, filed May 31, 1928.

The general object of this invention is to increase the speed with which bolts and screws may be finished, as for instance, upon the under side of the bolt or screw head and upon the end of the shank which is to be pointed or beveled.

According to the old practices, if not performed by hand, the two operations just referred to are either performed in different machines or at least at different times, that is, as successive operations. Also, when performed by the same machine, as successive operations, the position of the bolt or screw is moved to another part of the machine after performing the one operation and prior to the second operation. As a result of the old practices just referred to, considerable time is lost and consequently there is not obtained maximum quantity production.

Besides increasing the speed of production, it is also an object of the present invention to per form the finishing operations with increased efficiency.

More specifically, the objects of this invention are to perform the finishing operations simultaneously, without changing the angular position 01 the bolts or screws and all within a restricted extent of advancing movement of the bolts or screws.

Other objects consist in providing an improved means for holding the bolts in position for the finishing operations and for rotating the same during such operations.

Furthermore, it is the object of this invention to devise a single unitary automatic machine structure that is capable of accomplishing the above results in an expeditious and efficient manner and that is of comparatively simple construction.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for purposes of illustration and that various modifications might be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to our invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the machine showing the cutting tools and their operating mechanism; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation partially in section of the work holding chuck and associated parts on a somewhat larger scale; Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is 1 an elevation of the cam and operating lever for actuating the feed plate; Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary diagrammatic plan views showing the operation of the feed plate; Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of mechanism shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 11 illustrates diagrammatically the performance of three finishing operations simultaneously.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine as a whole comprises a bed 10 on which is supported, by suitable bearings, a drive shaft 11 driven from an outside source through belt 12 and pulley 13 fastened on the end of said shaft. The drive shaft 11 carries a gear 14 which meshes with gear 15 mounted on the intermediate shaft 16. The shaft 16 also carries gear 17 which i. meshes with gear 18 so as to drive the cam shaft 19 upon which the gear 18 is mounted.

The bolts or screws to be operated upon are thrown promiscuously into a hopper 20 which is supported by the frame of the machine. The bolts or screws in the hopper are picked up and properly arranged by a curved slotted disc 21 adapted to rise and fall in the hopper under control of a rotatable arm 22 whose roller 23 rides in the cam slot 24 formed in the extension on the lower portion of said disc. The bolts or screws are arranged in the slotted disc 21 so as to hang by their heads and when said disc is in its uppermost position, its angle is such as to cause the bolts or screws to slide by gravity into a chute 25. A guard 26, (Fig. 1), is placed over the chute so as to keep the bolts or screws in order. Any bolts or screws not properly positioned in the chute are removed by a rotatable toothed wheel 2'7 mounted over the said chute so as to engage, during its rotation, any improperly positioned bolts or screws and kick them back into the hopper.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bolts or screws 28 pass to the lower or outlet end of the chute where there is located a reciprocatable plate 29 adapted to slide back and forth across the end of the path of the bolts or screws and to remove one at a time from the chute and then hold back the remaining continuous line of bolts or screws in the chute while delivering the removed bolt or screw to be operated upon. The plate 29 is reciprocated in a slide-way 30 by means of a cam 31 working in conjunction with a toggle mecha f on nism and a compression spring 32. A roller 33 carried on one arm of a bell crank lever 34 engages the'carn 31, the other arm of the lever 34 being operatively connected to toggle 35 through a connecting rod 36. When the roller 33 rides on the high point of the cam 31, the lever 34 is rocked so that its upper arm moves in a direction to collapse the toggle 35 against the action of compression spring 32, thereby retracting the plate 29, as indicated in Fig. 7. A recess 37, formed in the end of the plate 29, is then caused to register with the delivery end. of chute 25, whereupon the foremost bolt or screw passes by gravity from the chute and seats itself in the said recess, as shown in Fig. 8. The roller 33 now engages the low point of the cam, whereupon lever 34 releases the toggle which is hereupon straightened by the action of spring 32, so as to advance plate 29 which moves the bolt or screw just received to a position to one side of the mouth of the chute and in comparatively close proximity thereto. As the bolt or screw is thus moved into such position by the advancement of the plate 29, the shank portion of the bolt or screw is brought to bear against an angularly disposed, spring-pressed plate 40 which tends to steady the bolt or screw and prevent it from chattering during its rotation, thereby securing a more uniform cutting. Bolt 29 carried by plate 29 is adapted to engage the stop 29 on the slideway 30. Then the head of the bolt or screw is engaged by a floating chuck 39 which rotates the same while a pair of cutting tools mounted adjacent thereto operate upon it.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the chuck 39 is slidably mounted on the end of a spindle 41 which is slidably and rotatably supported through bearings 42 and 43 forming part of bracket 44 extending from the bed 10 of the machine. When the plate 29 reaches the end of its forward movement, the bolt or screw carried thereby is directly beneath the spindle 39 which is then automatically lowered so that its hexagonal or other form of opening 45 passes over the correspondingly formed head of the bolt or screw. At this time, a pin 46 extending from the lower end of the spindle 41 is engaged by the head of the bolt or screw and depressed against a spring 47, as shown in Fig. 4. Pin 46 is carried by a socket 46 which has screw-threaded engagement in the .lower end of spindle 41, a head being provided upon the pin to retain the same in the socket and to afiord a bearing surface for the spring. The chuck 39 is lowered into posit-ion over the bolt orscrew by means of a compression spring 48 which is released at the proper time by means of a cam 49 acting through roller 50, lever arm 51, rod 52, and spring 53, which is attached at its upper end to a rocker arm 54 whose opposite end is attached to a collar 55 fixed to the spindle 41 (Fig. 1). The spindle 41 is continuously rotated through .a pulley 56 carried on the drive shaft 11. A belt 57 passing over the pulley 56 is directed over the idlers 58 so as to pass around the pulley 59 carried on the said spindle. Chuck 39 has slots 39 through which extend the ends of pin 39 which is threaded in spindle 41. Extending through spindle 41 at ninety degrees to the screw 39 is the pin 39, the ends of which engage in recesses 39 This pin supports washer 48 for the spring 48. The pin and slot connections just described have suificient play to constitute a virtually floating connection for the chuck.

During the rotation of the bolt or screw, the cutting tools 60 and 61 (Figs. 3 and 4) mounted adjacent the said bolt or screw, are moved up wardly into position so as to simultaneously shave the under surface of the head portion and point the lower end of the shank portion of the said bolt or screw. The cutting tools 60 and 61 are rigidly supported between the clamps 62 and 63, respectively, and these clamps in turn are separately and adjustably supported in a plate 64. The plate 64 is slidably mounted in the bracket 65, and, as shown in Fig. 3, is raised at the proper time so as to bring the cutting tools into operative relation with respect to the bolt or screw. The plate 64 is raised against the action of spring 66 by a cam 67 which engages roller 68 carried on one arm of a bell crank lever 69 pivotally mounted at 70. The other arm of lever 69 engages a rod 71 carried by the said plate. Cam 67 is mounted upon shaft 19 for operation thereby.

As a means for preventing the bolts or screws from sticking in the chute, we have provided a means for forcing them one at a time out of the delivery end of the chute immediately prior to the movement of the slide 29 across the mouth of the chute. This means comprises the bell-crank lever which is pivotally mounted at the point 74 upon a bracket secured to the slide-way 30. The rear end of the lever has a roller 75 adapted for engagement by the block 29 carried by the reciprocating plate 29. The other arm 76 of the bell crank lever has pivotal connection at 77 with a finger 78 which is adapted to be projected just back of the foremost bolt or screw in the chute so as to assist the force of gravity in the delivery of the same therefrom. The rear end of the finger 78 is beveled, as indicated at 78 so'as' to engage the correspondingly beveled surface 79 provided on the arm 76 of the bell-crank lever. The end portion of the arm 76 may be formedas a clevis to receive the rear end portion of the finger 78. The coil spring 80 is positioned around the rod 80 which extends through the arm 76,

and finger 78, and is provided with a suitable curved bearing engagement 80 with the overlapping portions of the arm. 76 and finger j 78, these parts being so constructed and arranged that the spring will cause the arm 76 and finger 78 to assume straight or distended position, at which time, the beveled surfaces 78 and 79 will engage with each other and the finger 78 will 1 virtually form a straight continuation of the arm 76 so as to then partake of the forward movement of the arm'76. Furthermore, this manner of engagement between the arm 76 and finger 78 serves to limit the pivotal movement T about the point 77 and thus there is precluded the danger of these parts passing beyond dead center. The stop member 81 is adjustably mounted upon the side of the chute, through the side wall of which an opening is provided, and is .l adapted to engage and guide the forward end a portion of finger 78 so as to determine the point of entrance of the finger, with respect to the position for entrance just back of the foremost bolt or screw as it advances down the chute.

In other words, with this arrangement, the finger is permitted to retreat a distance corresponding to the diameter of the particular size of bolt or screw.

When the machine is stopped, the slide finger for:

ing and chatt e'rir'ig. At the same time, the com- 81 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to extend through an opening in the side of the chute and across the path of the bolts or screws. In this way, the bolts or screws are prevented from dropping out of the chute.

Briefly stated, the operation is as follows. The bolts or screws are fed by gravity and by means of the finger 78 so as to be discharged one at a time from the mouth of the inclined chute. Each bolt or screw as it thus emerges from the chute is received in the recess of the reciprocating plate 29 and is brought into engagement with the yielding backing member 40 which also has a suitably formed recess to receive the bolt or screw. Thus, the bolt or screw is clamped between the two members 29 and 40, the one being angularly dis posed with respect to the other. The floating chuck then descends and engages over the head of the bolt or screw which is then rotated by the spindle upon which the chuck is carried. The universal or floating movement of the chuck serves as a means of compensating for any eccentric relation between the head and shank of any imperfectly formed bolt or screw. As soon as the head of the bolt or screw is engaged by the rotating chuck, the cutting tools are raised for engagement with the bolt or screw, the tool 60 being adapted to shave the under surface of the bolt or screw head while the tool 61 is adapted to form the bevel on the end of the shank. Upon completion of the finishing operation, the cutting tools are lowered, and the chuck and reciprocating plate are withdrawn, whereupon the bolt or screw is permitted to drop, with the assistance of the ejecting pin 46. The boltor screw is rolled out of its seat in the plate 29 by the action of the spring-pressed member 40, thereby preventing sticking of the same.

Also, the recessed forward end portions of the plate 29 and member 40 may be formed as separate parts which can readily be replaced at any time. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the mouth of the chuck may be of any desired shape, according to the shape of the bolt or screw head in any given case. In the case of bolts or screws having circular heads, the chuck may be provided with downwardly extending pins for engagement for the rotary movement, or, the tops of circular heads might be slotted diametrically and a correspondingly shaped downwardly extending projection provided upon the chuck for engagement therein. Although only two cutting tools are shown in the present case, yet in those cases where occasion might require it, a third tool might also be provided for operation in the same manner, as for instance to shave the bevel at a point intermediate the ends of the bolt or Y screw, as is found in a certain class of work; that is, extruded bolts and screws. See, for instance, the third cutter 61 in Fig. 11.

The speed of operation and hence the volume of production, is greatly increased with the present machine, due to the performance of all the finishing operations at the same time, and also to the performance of all the movements of the bolts or screws within a comparatively restricted space. The bolts or screws are maintained in the same angular position throughout the entire operation and all of the finishing operations are performed within the immediate vicinity of the mouth of the chute. Thus, the machine is of a very compact nature and furthermore, the mechanism is comparatively simple. Because of the spring-actuated parts, there is ensured the degree of yieldability which is necessary to prevent bindplete straightening of the toggle 35 affords a rigid backing for the bearing engagement of the tools against the opposite side'of the bolt or screw. Also, the bolt or screw is prevented from sticking, as above explained.

Other advantages will be apparent to those who are familiar with the art to which the present invention relates.

What we claim is:

1. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding bolts or screws through one plane, means for transferring the same to a plane substantially normal to said first plane, means including said transferring means for holding the bolt or screw in position in said second plane for finishing operations, and means for performing such operations upon the head and shank thereof simultaneously.

2. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding a bolt or screw to position for finishing operations, means for performing such operations upon the head and shank thereof simultaneously, and means including said feeding means for maintaining the bolt or screw in substantially the same angular position during the said operations as it occupies during the feeding movement thereof.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding bolts or screws, means for positioning the bolts or screws in close proximityto the end of said chute for a finishing op eration upon the same, said positioning means constituting also a rigid backing for the bolts or screws during the finishing operation, and means for performing said operation.

4. A machine 'of the class described comprising a chute for feeding bolts or screws, means for positioning the bolts or screws in close proximity to the end of said chute for finishing operations upon the same, said positioning means constituting also a backing for the bolts or screws during the finishing operation, and means for performing such operations upon the head and end thereof simultaneously.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding bolts or screws, means for positioning the bolts or screws for a finishing operation upon the same without changing the angularity of the bolts or screws, said posiduring the finishing operation, and means for performing such operation.

'7. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding bolts or screws, means operating across theextreme end of the chute for moving the bolts or screws to position for a finishing operation upon the same and for then serving as a'backing for the same during the finishing operation, and means for performing such operation.

8. A machine of the class described comprising means for rotating a bolt or screw, means for performing a finishing operation upon the bolt or screw, a rigid backing for the engagement of the bolt or screw by said finishing means, and.

means affording yielding lateral engagement of the bolt or screw during rotation of the same, the point of yielding engagement being opposite the points of engagement by the finishing tool and the rigid backing, independently of said rigid backing.

9. A machine of the class described comprising means for rotating a bolt or screw, means for performing finishing operations upon the bolt or screw during rotation thereof, a rigid backing for the engagement of the bolt or screw by said finishing means, said finishing means being adapted to engage the bolt or screw diametrically opposite to said rigid backing, and a yieldable means for engaging the bolt or screw laterally at a point between the points of engagement of said backing and said finishing means.

10. A machine of the class described comprising reciprocating means for moving a bolt or screw to position for performing finishing operations upon the same and for then serving as a backing for the same during the finishing operation, yieldable means into engagement with which the bolt or screw is moved and held by said reciprocating means, means for rotating the bolt or screw while so engaged by said aforesaid means, and finishing means for engaging the bolt or screw at a point diametrically opposite said reciprocating means.

11. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding bolts or screws, reciprocating means for moving the bolts or screws from the end of said chute to position for performing finishing operations upon the same without disturbing their angular position, auxiliary supporting means into engagement with which the bolts or screws are moved and held by said reciprocating means, means for rotating the bolts or screws while so engaged by the aforesaid means, and means for performing said operation upon bolts or screws.

12. A machine of the class described comprising toggle-actuated reciprocating means for moving a bolt or screw to position for performing finishing operations upon the same and for then serving as a backing for the same during the finishing operation, yieldable means into engagement with which the bolt or screw is moved and held by said reciprocating means, means for rotating the bolt or screw while so engaged by said aforesaid means, and finishing means for engaging the bolt or screw at a point diametrically opposite said reciprocating means.

13. A machine of the class described comprising means for engaging the shank portion of a bolt or screw during the finishing of the same, means having unitary rotary movement and being automatically adjustable laterally with respect to the shank of the bolt or screw for engaging the head of the bolt or screw for rotating the same during the finishing operation, said adjustable means comprising a member for engaging the head of the bolt or screw and pin and slot connections, arranged at ninety degrees to each other, between said member and the rotative means therefor, whereby there is obtained a universal lateral adjustment, and means for performing the said operation upon the bolt or screw.

14. A machine of the class described comprising means for engaging the shank portion of a bolt or screw during the finishing of the same, means having unitary rotary movement and being automatically adjustable laterally with respect to the shank of the bolt or screw for engaging the head of the bolt or screw for rotating the same during the finishing operation, said adjustable means comprising a member for engaging the head of the bolt or screw and pin and slot connections, arranged at ninety degrees to each other, between said member and the rotative means therefor, whereby there is obtained a universal lateral adjustment, means for performing the said operation upon the bolt or screw, and spring actuated means adapted to be releasably compressed by engagement of the bolt or screw while in operating position and extending within said rotatable means so as to form a part thereof.

15. A machine of the class described, comprising finishing means, a means, in addition to the finishing means, for engaging the shank portion of a bolt or screw during the finishing of the same, means having unitary rotary movement and being automatically laterally adjustable with respect to the shank of the bolt or screw for engaging the head of the bolt or screw for rotating the same during the finishing operation, and means for performing the said finishing operationupon the bolt or screw. 7

16. 1 machine of the class described, comprising finishing means, means, in addition to the finishing means, for engaging the shank portion of a bolt or screw during the finishing of the bolt or screw, means having unitary rotary movement a and including a floating chuck for engaging the ing means for engaging the shank portion of a a,

bolt or screw during the finishing of the same,

means including a floating chuck for engaging and holding the head of the bolt or screw for rotating the same during the finishing operation, means for performing said operation upon the bolt or screw, and means for automatically preventing the bolt or screw from sticking in said holding means.

18. A machine of the class described, comprising means for engaging the shank portion of a bolt or screw during the finishing of the same,

means including a floating chuck for engaging and holding the head of the bolt or screw for rotating the'same during the finishing operation, means for performing said operation upon the bolt or screw, and means for automatically discharging the bolt or screw from said holding means.

HOWARD D. SIMKINS. OLIVER P. DE LOE. 

